Bhutan’s government is pushing hard to open its doors to investors and new industries. It wants more than just its famous Gross National Happiness score. It plans to use its clean energy and special economic zones to bring jobs home. But many challenges lie ahead.
Bhutan’s GNH index rose from 0.743 in 2010 to 0.781 in 2022. Over the same span, GDP per person grew from $2,435 to $3,711, though it dipped sharply in 2020 during the pandemic. Tourism is still recovering: 145,000 visitors came last year, down from 315,599 in 2019 under the “high-value, low-impact” model that caps arrivals to protect mountain roads and forests.
Bhutan’s plan is bold. It blends traditional values with a shot at tech and finance. If young people see real jobs at home, some may stay. If pilot projects succeed, small-scale could grow big. But any misstep in hydropower, crypto or city building risks stretching Bhutan’s limited resources. For now, investors and citizens alike will be watching closely.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
